Let me announce proudly I'm back in the record business.
And it's got nothing to do with my pals Rusty and Alec.

It's all to do with having a new record player. Or if
you prefer turntable.

A few days ago a package arrived with this beautiful newred record player inside. And not just any record player,
a Pro Ject Debut Carbon DC with the Ortofon 2M Red
cartridge.

My JVC turntable died several years ago. And there was a point
where I didn't think I'd replace it. But I did miss vinyl and all it's
attributes. Sound being most important. And then there's the
artwork which you can actually see. Along with lyric sheets, that
again you can actually read if you're over forty.

I've setup the Pro Ject turntable. And now it's time to clean all
the records old and new. Yes, even the ones still sealed will get
a cleaning. More on the cleaning supplies later. Which I know
will keep you all on pins and needles in anticipation.

____________________________________________

A Positive Thread...
First and foremost I want this thread to be positive. Not about
politics or anything else that can cause grief.

I hope others will post about new vinyl purchases or what you've
listened to today. And feel free to post what type of system you're
using to playback your precious vinyl.
____________________________________________

I'd like to thank Mr. Jack White and Michael Fremer for
getting me back in the business.

I'll start posting about my new and old albums as they're played
(or cleaned - yikes). I hope you all will do the same.

I've had my ex-DJ bros vintage Technics and Toshiba turntables to play with for years but sadly his mixer was busted long ago which I used to make some sweet mixtapes with 'back in the day (when casettes ruled the world). I've managed to keep one of the direct drive turntables working (Toshiba SR255), and I also have a lower budget RCA belt driven turntable with built in pre-amp which still seems to work after dragging it by boat from Alaska several years ago. What I do with vinyl I want to listen to a lot is to transfer it direct to a CD-R with either a Lite-On DVD/audio recorder through RCA jacks, or the pro Tascam CDRW-5000 burner. Then I edit on PC in wav format with Nero if I need to remove a click or it's just a crap piece of vinyl to start with and I'm desperate. I do as little messing with as I can past cleaning the record under scrutiny.

I have some old DJ cleaner fluid with a fuzzy black padded thing on wood for cleaning, no idea where the original packaging went. Except for crap vinyl I use a mild soap and water solution just to see what it sounds like. I don't go through all this as much as I used to but I still do projects for friends.

I have hundreds of LPs and 45s, my BF has even more. I do tend toward playing the CD-R copies (with nice inserts showing the LP or 7" graphics such as they may be), but do enjoy having vinyl sessions, especially of modern Sundazed and Norton type reissues and various small label new releases like State/13 O'Clock, Acid Jazz, Market Square, Dionysus etc.

I have most Fleetwood Mac on vinyl by the way, some I've had since the 1970s. I don't have some of the Welch era or past Mirage on vinyl though. I have various solo/related things like Mick's The Visitor and agree the large liners and art are great for something important to you. I'd have to keep the 1975 LP for the great lyrics and penguin cartoons insert, and the same for the Rumours photos foldout! The quality of the Then Play On artwork and inside photo hasn't been quite all there in the two CD versions I've gotten of it so have to keep that around.

I have water that's been well boiled for drinking (I'm hyper-sensitive to chlorine) and I use that with a very tiny amount of dish soap but that's just on your cheap bargain bin records that are dirty and I might use the proper cleaning fluid later and the nicer turntable and needle. There used to be a website put together by eBay music fans called The Roadhouse that had some good stuff about cleaning vinyl, even de-warping but I've never been very successful with that.

I also used to do old 78s on a turntable of my Father's with it's special wider needle for those grooves. Only a few of them have ever shown up on offical CD. They needed a lot of cleaning and help from the PC de-clicking and de-hissing and I made two cool CD-Rs; one with blues and early rock stuff and the other with western swing, yodelling and hillbilly boogie bop type stuff. I mention it as it was a Father's Day project but I liked it as much as he did. This year I did a latter-day Carter Family compilation for him that is a bit rare.

I'm very envious of you guys who can afford record players... I've decided long ago that when I grow up I'll save money to buy one, and then I'll buy all the deluxe reissues that all these years I could see only in my dreams. Fleetwood Mac and Peter Gabriel would be the first.

My parents have a little collection of vinyls even if not royally preserved because they used to own a portable record player. We have a lot of classic Italian acts, mainly singer-songwriters, then some English acts. My mother used to have an important first edition of a Beatles album but our evil aunt stole it. It should be some thousands Euros worth now.

My bestfriend's family owns an amazing classic rock vinyl collection with all the most important albums by the most classic acts, from Led Zeppelin to Smashing Pumpkins, and they have a relatively new Player. They say that in Italy there's no way to have replacement parts and when they need a needle they have to order it from Germany.
When I gave to my bestfriend the LP of David Bowie's Station to station for her graduation, along with a bottle of sweet wine made by my father, they listened to it in their living room sipping the wine.

I'm very envious of you guys who can afford record players... I've decided long ago that when I grow up I'll save money to buy one, and then I'll buy all the deluxe reissues that all these years I could see only in my dreams. Fleetwood Mac and Peter Gabriel would be the first.

My parents have a little collection of vinyls even if not royally preserved because they used to own a portable record player. We have a lot of classic Italian acts, mainly singer-songwriters, then some English acts. My mother used to have an important first edition of a Beatles album but our evil aunt stole it. It should be some thousands Euros worth now.

My bestfriend's family owns an amazing classic rock vinyl collection with all the most important albums by the most classic acts, from Led Zeppelin to Smashing Pumpkins, and they have a relatively new Player. They say that in Italy there's no way to have replacement parts and when they need a needle they have to order it from Germany.
When I gave to my bestfriend the LP of David Bowie's Station to station for her graduation, along with a bottle of sweet wine made by my father, they listened to it in their living room sipping the wine.

I'm glad that I did not have to buy the current overpriced turntables.They are nuts for overcharging.Also some sound like crap.You might be lucky to find a 30 to 40 year year old good name brand names turn tables like Technics,BSR,Garrard and other original top makes for 25 to 50 Euros at a fleamarkets or tag sales in your area .You always can bicker them down on price there. Yes I understand the need for parts.Most needles,cartridges Idler tires,pulleys and belts can be found online.

Also can check these forums out for the technical stuff for you geek Ledgies like me..

Becca,
I'm just trying to get different recipes for cleaning
vinyl. I'll be trying different mixes of this and that
on my older vinyl. I have Spin-Clean fluid for my
new vinyl.

I don't have many 78's. The only one I can think of
is by Hank Williams.

Speaking of The Carter Family. If you have Netflix
there's a new documentary about them called The
Winding Stream. I haven't seen it yet.

Macfanforever,
I kept most of my vinyl too. Gave away a few records
that I'd never care to listen to again.

Of the turntables you own which is your favorite?

SisterNightroad,
I've been slowly planning my return to vinyl for quite
awhile now. It just takes time. You'll get there. I've
been buying new records for a couple of years. And
with each one it's encouraged me to keep the dream
alive.

I care too much about details. So it took me a very
long time to decide which turntable to get. I kind of
wish I were different. It can get expensive before you
know it. My only advice on which turntable to get would
be one that doesn't hurt your records. As in too heavy of
the tracking force. Analog Planet is also a good website to
read about vinyl and such.

You mentioned Bowie. I have a first pressing of his latest
release. I think I ordered it right before or just after he died.
It sold out quickly.

Becca,
I'm just trying to get different recipes for cleaning
vinyl. I'll be trying different mixes of this and that
on my older vinyl. I have Spin-Clean fluid for my
new vinyl.

I don't have many 78's. The only one I can think of
is by Hank Williams.

Speaking of The Carter Family. If you have Netflix
there's a new documentary about them called The
Winding Stream. I haven't seen it yet.

Macfanforever,
I kept most of my vinyl too. Gave away a few records
that I'd never care to listen to again.

Of the turntables you own which is your favorite?

SisterNightroad,
I've been slowly planning my return to vinyl for quite
awhile now. It just takes time. You'll get there. I've
been buying new records for a couple of years. And
with each one it's encouraged me to keep the dream
alive.

I care too much about details. So it took me a very
long time to decide which turntable to get. I kind of
wish I were different. It can get expensive before you
know it. My only advice on which turntable to get would
be one that doesn't hurt your records. As in too heavy of
the tracking force. Analog Planet is also a good website to
read about vinyl and such.

You mentioned Bowie. I have a first pressing of his latest
release. I think I ordered it right before or just after he died.
It sold out quickly.

I have my late fathers Garrard here which is almost is old as I am.I have tons of others here since I repair and collect them .

I learned this from my friend about 35 plus years ago which is a radio DJ. I clean my vinyl with room temp water with mild dish soap to get the oily finger prints ,food stains ,beverage spills , dirt and dust off.Don't use hot water.It will warp it.Let air dry.

Oh .I love the classic country artists and bands.I have tons on vinyl.Too many to list.

__________________
Skip R........

Stevie fan forever and ever amen.......
the Wildheart at Edge of Seventeen and the Gypsy.....

This is turning in to a big project.
Because where I store my vinyl is
involved.

Who wants to help?

Thats great.

My friend down the street which gave me 100's and 100's of vinyl already is at it again dumping his extras and dups that he dont want on me last week.

Alot of classic Christmas music albums in this batch including Gene Autry's "Here Comes Santa Clause" and " Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" on 78 RPM records.It was great to hear the hiss and snap crackle pop playing those two records.

I got to get a new needle for my TT since its shot.

__________________
Skip R........

Stevie fan forever and ever amen.......
the Wildheart at Edge of Seventeen and the Gypsy.....

There's no telling how many millions of records
that Gene Autry record sold. Cool pickup.

_________________________________

I got a little exciting news tonight. My uncle is in
town on a visit. And he brought me something. He
said it was on the SUN record label. I'm pretty sure
it's not Elvis, but I'm still excited to see who it is.

I think this will make my 4,000th post. Never would
have believed I'd have that many lies, um... I mean stories
to tell.

There's no telling how many millions of records
that Gene Autry record sold. Cool pickup.

_________________________________

I got a little exciting news tonight. My uncle is in
town on a visit. And he brought me something. He
said it was on the SUN record label. I'm pretty sure
it's not Elvis, but I'm still excited to see who it is.

I think this will make my 4,000th post. Never would
have believed I'd have that many lies, um... I mean stories
to tell.

I lost count and worrying about the floor caving in and my back going out altogether..This is not counting the Stevie/FM records. I have the one sided Rudolph 78rpm somewhere here.4.000 post .My 10,000 is coming soon.